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AsianScientist (Mar. 19, 2021) – With COVID-19 vaccines coming out one after another in record time, scientists in immunology and drug discovery have been publicly lauded for their efforts in slowing the pandemic.
But these two fields are far from the only ones to have pushed boundaries amid the COVID-19 crisis. While not directly related to biomedicine, areas such as materials science have also been critical game changers in solving problems for healthcare professionals.
From fungi-based construction materials to super materials like graphene used in next-generation sensors and electronics, materials science has easily integrated itself into different disciplines.
It should come as no surprise then that when COVID-19 reached Singapore’s shores, scientists like Professor Loh Xian Jun, executive director of A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), moved quickly to target applications in public health and biomedicine.
Collaborating with fellow researchers from A*STAR and Nanyang Technological University, Loh created a smart mask that remotely monitors patients’ vital parameters. The smart masks are able to detect and measure changes in heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation and temperature accurately for several hours— potentially reducing face-to-face contact between healthcare providers and the sick, effectively lowering infection risk.
More than strapping electrodes onto fabric, developing such a mask required the researchers to overcome multiple obstacles.
“One of the key challenges faced was how to integrate the thumb-sized sensors on the inside of the mask while maintaining comfort and ensuring the sensors are protected,” explained Loh.
To meet these requirements, Loh and his team utilized a polymer that was water-resistant, flexible, durable, and skin-like in quality. Having successfully created comfortable and effective smart masks, the researchers plan on going a step further by adding anti-viral coatings and sensors.
Smart masks aside, Loh has also used his expertise to develop surgical solutions. As a pioneering polymer chemist, he created a new class of urethane-based thermogelling polymers for eye surgeries. These polymers, which form a gel at human body temperature, closely mimic the qualities of eye vitreous humor.
When the retina at the back of the eye is damaged, either through injury or aging, the jelly-like substance in the eyeball known as vitreous may break down and impair one’s vision.
When this happens, the traditional treatment method involves replacing the fluid with gases or other liquids. However, these strategies often lead to awkward sitting positions for patients during extended healing periods, coupled with lifestyle restrictions and follow-up surgeries.
Unlike these conventional methods, Loh’s replacement polymers gel quickly inside the eyeball, reducing post-operative care. With a similar refractive index to vitreous, they offer patients good immediate post-operative vision. As the polymers are biodegradable and enable the regeneration of vitreous, they also eliminate the need for follow-up surgeries. Apart from applications in eyecare, the gels can potentially be used in drug delivery, and as scaffolds for epithelial grafting surgeries.
While the smart masks and thermogels demonstrate Loh’s plans to integrate materials science with clinical applications, his goals go beyond his field. As IMRE’s executive director, Loh holds high hopes for the future of the sciences in Singapore.
“My key focus is in the development of new and innovative materials for sustainability and energy-related applications, medical technologies, agritech and aquaculture,” he said.
In fulfilling these ambitions of utilizing material science for a more sustainable world, Loh will emphasize collaboration, and building up a recognizable “Created in Singapore” brand of research. With a strong purpose and exciting developments constantly bubbling in Singapore’s laboratories and research institutions, his visions may just materialize sooner rather than later.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
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